Made in the original Gibson factory in Kalamazoo Michigan, Heritage guitars combine old-world expertise and new-world consistency to create true works of musical art. This Almond Sunburst Heritage 535 is a semi-hollow rock classic that sounds warm and rich. With Seymour Duncan pickups and superior craftsmanship, this guitar is guaranteed to impress any player.This 2017 Heritage H-535 features:Almond Sunburst Nitrocellulose finish,Curly maple laminate top and backSolid maple sidesCream bindingEbony pickguardOne piece Mahogany set neck, 1-11/16" nut width, 24.75" scaleBound Rosewood fingerboard, 22 fretsTonePros locking bridge and stop barBone nutGrover Rotomatic tunersSeymour Duncan SH-55 Seth Lover pickupsSeparate volume and tone controls (CTS pots and Orange drop caps)3-way pickup switchHardshell caseList price: $3530Since Gibson left town in the 80's, Heritage Guitar has been the keepers of the Kalamazoo torch, crafting guitars the old way in low volumes. That was both their charm and their Achilles heel. New owners and investment have brought better quality, consistency, and to the relief of many, shorter lead times. With more marketing savvy and social media presence, the New Heritage is working to spread the good news.This Almond Sunburst speaks to the best of what Heritage has to offer: Flawless workmanship and finish, quality woods, rock-solid hardware and electronics. The Mahogany set neck is generous in proportion measuring approximately .870" at the first fret and .980" at the 12th. It's certainly in the mold of a late 50's Gibson profile. Players with small hands might find it a tad daunting, but the nicely rounded C profile provides ample palm support and jazz and blues players will feel right at home. The medium frets are smoothly finished to a fairly low height of around .035", providing action that feels sleek and speedyThe Duncan Seth Lover pickups are vintage output Alnico 2 pickups patterned after the original PAF design. At the neck, the SH-55N combines a bright but sweet top end with a warmer, woody low end response. The softer pull of Alnico 2 magnets don't create a lot of wound string bite, and the clean tone is best described as more jazzy than punchy. The tone is warm with a slightly loose feel and a "breathy" nature that is the sweet spot of this semi-hollow design. At the neck position the H-535 takes moderate amounts of distortion quite well and retains good note definition. Using our Keeley Tone Station, even the low notes took on the right amount of snap and growl.The bridge pickup is just about perfect, and the un-potted SH-55B is bright, sweet and clean without the sharp, brittle tone of a higher output Alnico 5 pickup. Whether for chords or solos, it's got an enticing blend of attack and suppleness, and like the neck pickup stays articulate and defined with moderate amounts of distortion.We'd say the bridge position is our favorite spot on the H-535...except that some of the best tones are with both pickups combined. There are four knobs; use them and you'll find a treasure trove of tones that truly unlock the versatility of this design. The CTS pots have a nice taper and usable range, and if you just play this guitar wide open, you are missing a lot.The thinline semi-hollow design has a great history, and players like Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour literally put this guitar on the map as the ultimate jazz/rock crossover guitar. The Heritage H-535 does not break any new ground, but for the player looking for a "destination" guitar, the H-535 provides the quality, tone and playability equal to the best of the breed, at a very attainable price.We are an authorized Heritage dealer located in Bellingham, Massachusetts, and this is a new guitar with all tags, tools, paperwork and certificates. Please feel free to browse our other listings, or contact us for information on a custom order.Orders received by 12:00EST will be shipped the next day. All guitars are set up and tested prior to shipment
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